[Thebiker]

I need to replace an ailing Scott 222C that has become a money pit.....

Since I have a couple of home remodeling projects going on at the moment, I need to find inexpensive an (Jolida 302/502 price range) decent sounding tube integrated. The amp would go into a system with a Rotel 1072 cdp, and a pair of Paradigm 20's.  This is the master bedroom, roughly 16 x 22.  Primary music will be chamber, acoustic jazz and new age.

My tube experience is Manley (main 2 channel) and vintage tubes.  I have no experience with the Jolida line (although there is a dealer @60 miles from home) and I don't know anyone with first hand experience with lower priced tube integrated.

So, any reasonable recommendations in the sub $1000 range would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Walt

[Scott F.]

You may want to consider the Jolida 102. Its an integrated, PP 6BQ5 (EL84) design that puts out nearly the same wattage as your 222. That way you could reuse all of your existing tubes in the new Jolida (assuming you have some favorite NOS or aftermarket tubes on hand).

[PaulFolbrecht]

The Cayin model that uses EL34 is maybe just a bit more but, believe me, the Cayin quality & sound are 2nd to none anywhere near their price.  (I have the A88 - well, the girlfriend has it in her system now.)

Dared also has some very good stuff.  I was put them as a point behind Cayin in build quality and cosmetics but equal in sonics.

[Doublej]

Two thoughts

1. Norh aca2b -$400
2. Call Upscale Audio. He may have a demo Prima Luna that you can get for under a grand.

[nirvana]

Walt,



 I will like to introduce you a Ming Da tube integrated amplifier and there are quite some choices at the budget you are spending.

 Please view it at


www.nirvanatrading.net


 Let us know if you need any more information.

[pacifico]

response audio has a jolida power amp for 1k right now

[Thebiker]

Thanks for all the help guys.  I'm down to either the Cayin 50 or telling the wife that she gets her new kitchen counters AFTER I buy the Cary SLI-80.

That should be an interesting conversation, but since I married a musician, she has more sensitive ears than I do.

[albee]

Prima Luna would be the way to go.  Lots of good praise.

[Sonny]

Thanks for all the help guys.  I'm down to either the Cayin 50 or telling the wife that she gets her new kitchen counters AFTER I buy the Cary SLI-80.

That should be an interesting conversation, but since I married a musician, she has more sensitive ears than I do.

I have the Onix SP-3 Melody, its an awesome 40wpc and its good, clean and weighty bass...details and warm...
it's only like $550 used or less on the gon.

[Dmason]

I would bet that PP EL34 would sound great with the Paradigms. Those are nice nice nice little speakers, and Paradigm knows it. My vote would be for the Onix SP3, with some current. I would like to hear that combo. Something tells me it would be sweet! They come up daily on Audio Gone.

Also, the Onix is cathode biased, but the Cayin needs to be manually biased, and I have have heard about tube drift issues with the TA-30. My vote again for the Onix, plug and play.

[Parnelli777]

The 801 is the best sounding Jolida integrated, imo, and easily one of the best integrateds for the money. It's a fairly punchy 70 watts, especially with KT88s.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1159060699

[PaulFolbrecht]

Few more thoughts from me.

I have also owned the Onix SP3 and it is also stellar at it's price range - in fact, a used one, as pointed out, is an absolutely steal.  A stepped attenuator on this thing!!  They are very strong-sounding and also a little 'rounded' (tubey).

I have owned Prima Luna monos also which, also, are of the highest quality.  Same league as Cayin.  Very nice sounding, but these also tend to be a bit on the rounder/fuller side.  The Cayin A88 is a bit leaner/faster sounding which I like. 

Cary gear is 1st-rate but there is no doubt you're simply paying more for the same quality due to being American-built.  That's either a pro or con depending on your point of view.

[Frihed91]

There was a new 302 forsale just yestreday in the trading post.  I would find a used Blue Circle CS.  At low-medium vols., this amp sounds like a Sugden A23E

[Frihed91]

Response Audio page.  It's still for sale - the Jolida.

[Thebiker]

Thanks to everyone for your help & advice.  You can always count on this forum to get an answer....of some sort.

Anyway, had the "postpone your new kitchen counters" discussion with the wife yesterday afternoon.  Her thoughts were that I was going to buy exactly what I wanted, sooner or later, so it should probably sooner or I would have another system up & running in the house (5 active systems at the moment). 

Short version, I called the sales manager at Ensemble in Nashua, NH and had him order a Cary SLI-80 in for me.    So, I'll put the Cary into my main rig in place of my Stingray, retire the Scott and put the Stingray into the bedroom system.

Cary quality is beyond reproach and I may have been able to find equal quality off shore for less money.  But, I like the idea of designed in the states and built in North Carolina.  Does my heart good, especially when so much of the world doesn't care for us.

So there it is, I spent over twice what I intended, but I sure everyone else in this hobby (addiction) has had same problem.

[PaulFolbrecht]

you done good.

[Bob Reynolds]

Thanks for caring where your gear is manufactured.

[Dmason]

Outstanding choice, and decision making...

[twitch54]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh......... I can hear Kate Smith singing God Bless America somewher !!!